Scottish Executive

Concessionary Travel

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when its local concessionary travel scheme will be rolled out nationally.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is committed to delivering its Partnership Agreement commitment on a national bus scheme for older and disabled people by 2007.

Education

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the Review of the Curriculum, Assessment and Testing and other matters arising from the National Debate on Education.

Peter Peacock: Today, the Scottish Executive is publishing Ambitious, Excellent Schools which sets out our agenda for the most comprehensive modernisation programme of our schools for a generation. This agenda involves: higher expectations for schools and school leadership; greater freedom for teachers and schools, more choice for pupils and better support for learning so the individual needs of young people can be better met, and tough, intelligent accountabilities to drive improvement. We are also publishing our detailed plans for two important planks of our agenda: A Curriculum for Excellence which sets out, for the first time, a three to 18 curriculum focused on achieving clearly defined, rounded outcomes for young people, and Assessment, Testing and Reporting 3-14 which will introduce a new, more rigorous national survey of achievement to replace the old national five to 14 test results and help us assess the achievements of pupils better. Copies of the publications have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre ( Ambitious, Excellent Schools , Bib. number 34227; A Curriculum for Excellence , Bib. number - 34228, and Assessment , Testing and Reporting 3-14 , Bib. number - 34229).

Environmental Courts

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards fulfilling its commitment within the Partnership Agreement to "strengthen the enforcement of environmental law" including the "consideration of the establishment of environmental courts and other options for improving prosecution and dispute resolution."

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has taken a number of steps to ensure that even stronger action is taken against those who commit environmental crime.

  In February 2004 the Lord Advocate announced the establishment of a national network of 17 specialist environmental prosecutors (COPFS Press Release NRCO191HH "Special Prosecutors for Crimes against Environment" on 9 February 2004). This will ensure that prosecutors with expertise in environmental law are available throughout the country and will enhance the robust approach to its enforcement. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is also considering methods by which courts can be made more aware of the impact and severity of environmental crimes

  From 28 October 2004 the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 will double the maximum fine, in summary proceedings, for a number of pollution offences, including polluting water or sewerage systems, fly-tipping, landfilling offences and operating industrial plant in an environmentally inappropriate manner, from £20,000 to £40,000. It also provides for fines to be accompanied by prison sentences in some cases, and for fixed penalty fines for litter and fly-tipping.

  The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 raises the maximum penalty for conservation-related offences, such as damage to Sites of Special Scientific Interest, to £40,000 on summary conviction. The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 provide for custodial sentences of up to six months for those convicted of the most serious of offences, and fines of up to £5,000 for each offence.

  In addition to the above, work is currently underway on the Partnership Agreement commitment to consider the establishment of environmental courts.

Environmental Courts

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out, commissioned or is aware of relating to environmental courts in other countries and whether this information is being collated to assist its "consideration of the establishment of environmental courts and other options for improving prosecution and dispute resolution", as set out in the Partnership Agreement.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive will take account of a range of research, with both a domestic and an international scope, on environmental courts and other methods of dispute resolution in its work on this Partnership Agreement commitment. This research includes, but is not limited to:

  Modernising Environmental Justice: regulation and the role of an environmental tribunal 

  Professor Richard Macrory CBE and Michael Woods LLM

  Centre for Law and the Environment, Faculty of Laws UCL, 2003

  http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/environment/tribunals/docs/full_report.pdf

  Trends in Environmental Sentencing in England and Wales

  Claire Dupont and Dr Paul Zakkour

  Environmental Resources Management (ERM) 2003

  http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/justice/pdf/erm-sentencing.pdf

  Using the Law: access to environmental justice; barriers and opportunities 

  Maria Adebowale (Capacity Global)

  http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/justice/pdf/ejureport.pdf

  Environmental and Civil Penalties; a more proportionate response to regulatory breach 

  Professor Richard Macrory CBE and Michael Woods LLM

  Centre for Law and the Environment, Faculty of Laws UCL

  http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/environment/civil-penalty/docs/ECPreport.pdf

  Civil Law Aspects of Environmental Justice 

  Paul Stookes (Environmental Law Foundation)

  The Environmental Justice Project, 2004

  http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/envirojustice.pdf

Further Education

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy is in place to address any undersupply of vocational further education (FE) courses in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources are being made available to further education colleges in Edinburgh and the Lothians to address increasing population figures.

Mr Jim Wallace: In February 2004, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council commissioned the second mapping exercise of supply of and demand for further education in Scotland. A national report and 11 area reports, including one for Edinburgh and the Lothians, are due to be completed in spring 2005. The exercise will include analysis of economic, labour market and demographic predictors of need and will develop an analytical framework for examining all post-16 education and training in Scotland. It will build on the work of the first mapping exercise published in 2002 and will inform the council’s future strategic decisions about the allocation of funding to the FE sector.

Further Education

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its further education policy takes into account population growth in specific regions.

Mr Jim Wallace: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to S2W-11153, on 1 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10724 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 September 2004, what arrangements will be made to ensure that businesses based in Perth and Kinross benefit from the hosting of the G8 Summit.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is working closely with the UK Government, the Scottish Enterprise Networks, Perth and Kinross Council, VisitScotland and the main business representative organisations to ensure Scottish businesses benefit from the economic and presentational benefits of the G8 Summit.

  Direct procurement opportunities for the summit itself will be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union. Scottish companies will be able to tender and contracts will be awarded on a competitive basis according to Public Procurement Guidelines.

  In addition, there will be significant opportunities for Scottish businesses in provision of goods, services, accommodation and marketing and tourism opportunities for the large number of delegates and media who will come to Scotland for the summit. There will also be national and local opportunities and events aimed at showcasing Scottish businesses and products and raising the profile of Scotland internationally.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10724 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 September 2004, whether it intends to host specific events at, or in advance of, the G8 Summit and, if so, where such events will be held.

Mr Tom McCabe: The G8 Summit in Gleneagles is a tremendous opportunity for the people of Scotland to showcase all aspects of Scottish talent and expertise. It is also a very good opportunity to bring together those in Scotland who wish to debate the themes of the summit, namely climate change and Africa.

  We are planning a number of activities around the summit with a range of partners. These activities are still at the development stage. There may be opportunities for ministerial involvement in some of these events. We will make information about specific events available as plans are confirmed.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10724 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 September 2004, what arrangements are being made to compensate those businesses or individuals in the Perth and Kinross area who suffer loss as a direct result of the hosting of the G8 Summit.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive is committed to ensuring that the summit at Gleneagles and the surrounding area is safe and secure. Scottish police forces have considerable experience of managing large-scale events and are well equipped to cope with the security operation. Tayside Police is responsible for co-ordinating security arrangements in the area and will have support from other law enforcement agencies as necessary.

  The Scottish Executive and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are jointly exploring the issues raised by residents and businesses in Perth and Kinross. We expect the position to be clarified well before the summit in July 2005.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10724 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 September 2004, whether it will list the non-governmental organisations with whom it is working closely in advance of the G8 Summit.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with a broad range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in its daily work. In advance of next year’s G8 summit officials have made specific contact with the following organisations to explain the role Scottish ministers and the Executive will be playing in activities around the summit:

  Scottish Civic Forum

  Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations

  Association of Churches Together in Scotland

  British Council Scotland

  Scottish Trades Union Congress

  WWF Scotland

  Friends of the Earth Scotland

  RSPB Scotland

  Scottish Environment Link.

  The UK Government will begin a formal consultation with NGOs throughout the UK on the summit themes in January.

G8 Summit

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10724 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 September 2004, whether it will list the businesses throughout Scotland with whom it is working closely in advance of the G8 Summit.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is liaising closely with the main business representative organisations including CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors, Scottish Chambers of Commerce, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses. We are also working closely with Perth and Kinross Council to help them prepare for the summit. In addition, the enterprise networks are working at national and local level to provide information and assistance to Scottish business on the G8 Summit as planning for the summit progresses.

G8 Summit

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planes it is anticipated will use Edinburgh Airport as a base for accessing the G8 Summit; whether Leuchars was considered as an alternative site and what the reasons are for the position on the matter, how many flights are anticipated to land at Leuchars if it is used to access the summit, and what disruption it is anticipated such use will cause to the operation of Edinburgh airport, access for passengers and scheduled services.

Mr Tom McCabe: The practical and logistical arrangements for the summit are a matter for the UK Government, with whom we are keeping in close touch. We do not expect that there will be any significant disruption to the designated arrival airport’s business.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Mr Andy Kerr: Reducing the incidence of MRSA is an important priority for the NHS in Scotland, as part of the programme of tackling healthcare associated infection (HAI). Actions already taken include establishing a system of national mandatory surveillance of MRSA; development and introduction of an antimicrobial resistance strategy; new standards for hospital infection control and cleaning services, and investment in better facilities for decontaminating re-usable medical devices.

  The HAI Task Force chaired by the Chief Medical Officer is taking forward a three-year programme of work to improve prevention and control of HAI (of which MRSA is an important element) across the NHS in Scotland.

  Overall, the effort is focussed on ensuring that everyone concerned understands the importance of hygiene, through clean hospitals and clean hands and this approach is already leading to a levelling out of infection levels.

Housing

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that money saved by local authorities from reducing the council tax discount on second homes will be spent on affordable housing.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is currently consulting with COSLA and Communities Scotland as to how local authorities’ actual spend on affordable housing should be monitored and compared, against the additional income generated from reducing the discount.

Housing

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated by local authorities to residents’ and tenants’ associations in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information is not held centrally on the funding provided by local authorities to residents’ and tenants’ associations. The Executive made available £4 million over financial years 2002-03 to 2003-04 to assist social landlords in implementing duties of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 in relation to tenant participation. The table shows how this was allocated by local authority.

  

Tenant Participation – Grant Paid
(2002-03 to 2003-04)
Year 1
2002-03
Paid
Year 2
2003-04
Paid
Total


Local Authorities
 


Aberdeenshire Council
£33,700
£33,700
£67,400


Angus Council
£22,200
£22,200
£44,400


Argyll and Bute Council
£16,400
£16,400
£32,800


City of Aberdeen Council
£56,300
£56,300
£112,600


City of Dundee Council
£42,100
£42,100
£84,200


City of Edinburgh Council
£57,100
£57,100
£114,200


City of Glasgow Council / Glasgow Housing Association
£0
£318,100
£318,100


Clackmannanshire Council
£15,400
£15,400
£30,800


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
£6,900
£6,900
£13,800


Dumfries and Galloway Council / D and G Housing Partnership
£0
32487
32487


East Ayrshire Council
£37,500
£37,500
£75,000


East Dunbartonshire Council
£14,900
£14,900
£29,800


East Lothian Council
£22,300
£22,300
£44,600


East Renfrewshire Council
£11,100
£11,100
£22,200


Falkirk Council
£44,800
£44,800
£89,600


Fife Council
£80,300
£40,000
£120,300


Highland Council
£37,300
£37,300
£74,600


Inverclyde Council
£23,300
£23,300
£46,600


Midlothian Council
£18,200
£18,200
£36,400


Moray Council
£16,900
£16,900
£33,800


North Ayrshire Council
£36,700
£36,700
£73,400


North Lanarkshire Council
£95,900
£95,900
£191,800


Orkney Islands Council
£4,700
£4,700
£9,400


Perth and Kinross Council
£22,200
£22,200
£44,400


Renfrewshire Council
£42,900
£42,900
£85,800


Scottish Borders Housing Association
£17,200
£17,200
£34,400


Shetland Islands Council
£7,100
£7,100
£14,200


South Ayrshire Council
£23,900
£23,900
£47,800


South Lanarkshire Council
£71,000
£71,000
£142,000


Stirling Council
£18,100
£18,100
£36,200


West Dunbartonshire Council
£30,600
£30,600
£61,200


West Lothian Council
£35,200
£35,200
£70,400


Total Local Authorities
£962,200
£1,272,487
£2,234,687

Ministerial Visits

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its protocol is for advising constituency and regional MSPs of a ministerial visit to the areas they represent.

Mr Tom McCabe: In accordance with paragraph 7.15 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, constituency MSPs, MPs and list MSPs are informed whenever a minister is planning to undertake a public engagement in their constituencies. The minister’s Private Office staff would normally send an email message directly to the parliamentary account of the relevant MSP as soon as the engagement is confirmed.

NHS Staff

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any redundancies arising out of NHS board proposals will be compulsory or voluntary.

Mr Andy Kerr: Employment issues are matters for individual NHS boards, however, under the Organisational Change Policy NHSScotland employers are required to work together to seek to avoid compulsory redundancy.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed by each non-departmental public body in each year since 1999; what the budget of each such body was in each year, and what proportion of each such budget was allocated for administrative costs in each year, broken down into (a) pay and (b) other costs.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on non-departmental public bodies, including details of the number of staff employed is contained on the public bodies website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/government/publicbodies/.

  Prior to the website’s establishment in 2002, detailed information on public bodies was published in the annual Cabinet Office document Public Bodies. Copies of this document are available from http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/agencies-publicbodies/publicbodies/index.shtm.

  Detailed financial information is included in the annual report and accounts of individual bodies.

Planning

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether East Lothian Council followed all the relevant procedures set out in Scottish Planning Policy 3 - Planning for Housing in determining the Blindwells New Settlement site.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether paragraphs 29 and 52 of National Planning Policy Guideline : NPPG17 - Transport and Planning: April 1999 , which state that the preferred location for development should be sites adjacent to railway stations, has been complied with in the identification of Blindwells New Settlement in East Lothian.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procedures for identifying new housing land, as set out in paragraph 47 of Scottish Planning Policy 3 Planning for Housing , have been adhered to and whether, in accordance with these procedures, the existing towns and villages within the Lothians including Drem, Prestonpans, Tranent, Longniddry, Haddington, Fenton Barns and Ormiston have substantial physical, environmental and infrastructural constraints that prohibit further growth.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in approving the finalised Edinburgh and Lothians Structure Plan, it was satisfied that the number of units planned for the Blindwells New Settlement site in East Lothian was enough to provide the proposed community benefits, including a new primary school, secondary school provision, a new railway station, additional community facilities, play areas and road links.

Malcolm Chisholm: Scottish ministers approved the Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan in June 2004. This included a strategic housing allocation of 1,600 units at Blindwells new settlement. This location was included in the Structure Plan following a development options study undertaken by East Lothian Council. This sought to identify locations which could accommodate Structure Plan housing requirements. Ministers’ approval of the plan took account of all matters they thought relevant, including national planning policy.

  The detail of how the Structure Plan allocation will be taken forward in terms of specific land allocations, policies for the control of development and the provision of infrastructure will be included in the new Local Plan for East Lothian, which is currently being prepared. The content and processing of the Local Plan is the responsibility of East Lothian Council.

Planning

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any instances where the procedures to be followed for the identification of land for development on brownfield sites, as set out in Scottish Planning Policy 3 - Planning for Housing , have not been adhered to.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any instances whereby the procedures for the identification of land for development on infill sites, as set out in Scottish Planning Policy 3 - Planning for Housing , have not been adhered to.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any instances whereby the procedures for the identification of land for development to meet housing requirements through the extension of existing settlements, as set out in Scottish Planning Policy 3 - Planning for Housing , have not been adhered to.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally. It is up to the local authority to interpret national policies and ensure compliance on a case-by-case basis.

Police

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase funding to the Grampian police force to cover additional costs, outwith Pittodrie stadium, arising from Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC playing its home games in Aberdeen this season.

Cathy Jamieson: We have no plans to do so. Funding for police forces in 2004-05 is at record levels. Grant aided expenditure for Grampian Police has risen by over 16% since 2002-03. It is due to rise by a further 21% by 2007-08. It is for the chief constable to determine, using the resources at his disposal, how best to meet local needs and circumstances.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many category A prisoners were released in error in each of the five years prior to the commencement of the contract for the provision of prisoner escort and court custody services.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The term "Category A" ceased to exist on 1 April 2002. The Scottish Prison Service had no Category A releases in error in the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002.

Public Sector Staff

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the recent announcement of the loss of departmental jobs from centres around Scotland and on what date or dates such discussions took place.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has had contact with the Department for Work and Pensions on matters that could impact on the Scottish economy, and any loss of jobs in Scotland is a matter of extreme regret.

  I will ensure the contents of the Finance Committee’s recent report on the relocation of public sector jobs will be made available to the Department for Work and Pensions so that they can be made aware of the opinions that have been expressed by the Scottish Parliament.

Road Accidents

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cyclists have been killed or injured in each of the last five years and, of these, how many have been killed or injured on trunk roads.

Nicol Stephen: The numbers of pedal cyclists killed or injured in each of the last five years appear in Table 23 of Road Accidents Scotland 2002 and Table 6 of Key 2003 Road Accident , copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 30447 and 33119, respectively).

  These figures relate only to accidents that are reported to the police.

  The following table gives the corresponding numbers of pedal cyclists killed or injured in each of the last five years in accidents which occurred on a trunk road and were reported to the police.

  Pedal Cycle Casualties on Trunk Roads, 1999 to 2003

  

Year
Killed
Killed and Serious Injury
All Severities


1999
0
11
42


2000
2
11
35


2001
3
13
50


2002
3
9
39


2003
6
9
37

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9859 by Nicol Stephen on 17 September 2004, whether the table showing major trunk road works under way will be developed further to include additional columns showing (a) indicative cost bands, illustrating the relative size of each project, (b) the status of consents and (c) if applicable, any public inquiries to indicate possible factors which might jeopardise the estimated start date.

Nicol Stephen: The information with regard to costs is shown in the following table. These are estimated costs as at 1 September 2004, exclude VAT, and may be subject to change as schemes progress. The table, as published in response to S2W-9859, already shows the position with respect to draft and finalised roads orders, and indicates where public inquiries are known or expected. Again, this information is subject to change over time. Progress on schemes is subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures, and the availability of finance.

  

Road
Scheme
Summary Description
Est. Cost (£M) @1/9/04
Estimated Start Date
Estimated Completion Date
Notes


A1
Thistly Cross to Bowerhouse.
Construction of new 0.8km dual carriageway
2.86
Under construction
Q1-2005-06
Final planned section of dualling of A1


A68
Soutra South to Oxton. 
Improve Southbound overtaking & Oxton junction
4.30
Q1-2006-07
Q1-2007-08
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A68
Pathhead to Tynehead Junction. 
Provide 1.9km of improved overtaking opportunities 
7.76
Q1-2006-07
Q1-2007-08
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A7
Auchenrivock. 
Improvement of 2.3km single carriageway to provide overtaking opportunities
4.70
Q4-2005-06
Q4-2006-07
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A7
Glenmayne to Yair. 
Improvement of 1.7km single carriageway to provide overtaking opportunities
4.90
Q3-2005-06
Q3-2006-07
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A75
Cairntop to Barlae. 

2.2km Overtaking scheme
4.60
Q4-2005-06
Q3-2006-07
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A75
Newton Stewart 
To provide guaranteed westbound overtaking on existing incline.
1.84
Q2-2005-06
Q4-2005-06
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A75
Barfill to Bettyknowes. 
Provision of overtaking opportunities over 1.2km section.  
2.59
Q1-2005-06
Q1-2006-07
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A75
Planting End to Drumflower 
Provision of 1.5km overtaking opportunities.
2.84
Q2-2005-06
Q4-2005-06
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A75
Dunragit Re-alignment. 
Rail bridge replacement and provision of 3km of overtaking opportunities.
10.30
Oct 2006
Dec 2007
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A75
Hardgrove to Kinmount. 
Provision of 4km of safer overtaking opportunities 
6.20
Nov 2006
Nov 2007
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A76
Gateside (2) 
Study to identify a 2km section of A76 North Sanquhar for overtaking section.
n/a
Study under way
 
 


A76
Glenairlie. 
Provision of a 2km climbing lane.
3.50
Q4-2005-06
Q4-2006-07
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A77
Maybole Bypass 
Appraisal to identify solutions to transport problems on the A77 through Maybole.
n/a
Public consultation under way
 
Consultant appointed 


A77
Park End to Bennane WS2
Provision of overtaking opportunity.
2.70
Q4-2005-06
tba
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A77
Haggstone Climbing Lane. 
Provision of northbound climbing lane.
3.57
Q3-2005-06
tba
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A77
Glen App WS2+1. 
Provision of overtaking opportunity. 
2.62
Q1-2006-07
tba
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A77
Drummuckloch to Innermessan. 
Provision of overtaking opportunity. 
3.20
Q4-2005-06
tba
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A77
Ardwell to Slockenray WS2. 
Provision of overtaking opportunity. 
2.06
Q1-2006-07
tba
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A77 
Symington and Bog End Toll 
Junction improvements 
n/a
tba
tba
Public exhibition of revised proposals held


A78
3 Towns Bypass (Ardrossan, Saltcoats & Stevenson). 
5km of 2-lane dual carriageway road and 1.4km of single carriageway road with climbing lane. Roundabouts at each end to connect the bypass with existing trunk road, and two intermediate junctions with local roads.  
30.30
Under construction
Dec 2004
 


A80
Auchenkilns Junction

Grade separated interchange on the A80.
22.80
Under construction
Sep 2005
 


A80
Allandale Park & Ride
Feasibility study report
0.45
In preparation
Nov 2004
Study only 


A82
Route Action Plan Study. 
Production of a strategy for improving operation and safety over this 154km route
0.35
Traffic surveys and consultation under way
 
Study report Q3 2005-06


A830
Arisaig to Loch Nan Uamh.
Upgrade of 7km of single track road on A830 strategic route
14.25
Q1-2005-06
tba
Draft Orders published 


A876
Kincardine Eastern Link Road. 
Construction 2km of new wide single carriageway Eastern Link road to remove traffic from Kincardine village.
9.80
5-2003
3-2005 (includes landscaping)
Road opened 5 July 2004 - 6 months ahead of schedule


A876
Kincardine Bridge. 
Construction of 8.1 km access roads and new bridge upstream of existing crossing, plus refurbishment of existing bridge structure.
89.50
Q4-2005-06
Q2-2008-09
Draft orders published - public local inquiry Q3-2004-05


A9
Route Improvement Strategy. 
Consider need to upgrade 35 km sections of A9 north of Perth. 
0.35
Study in preparation
 
 


A9
Ballinluig Junction

Construction of a grade separated junction to improve road safety.
7.90
Q4-2005-06
Q2-2007-08
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A9
Helmsdale to Ord of Caithness - Phase 2

1.8km Road upgrading scheme to remove poor geometry and narrow widths of existing road. 

4.50
Q3-2005-06
tba
Road Orders made


A9
Crubenmore Extension. 
1.9km Extension of existing short length of dual carriageway. 
2.43
tba
tba
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A9
Kincraig to Dalraddy 
Provision of guaranteed overtaking opportunities over 4km
1.94
tba
tba
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A90
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. 
To provide a 29km bypass to Aberdeen
120.00
Oct 2007
Oct 2010
Scheme in preparation. Draft orders to be published 2005


A90
Glendoick.
4th Grade separated interchange on the A90 trunk road between Perth and Dundee to improve road safety
5.90
Q3-2005-06
Q3-2006-07
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A90
Kinfauns.
Last grade separated interchange on the A90 trunk road between Perth and Dundee
5.10
Q3-2005-06
Q3-2006-07
Consultant appointed - In preparation


A90
Balmeddie - Tipperty
Multimodal appraisal of the single carriageway section of the A90
0.10
Q1-2002-03
Q2-2004-05
Study report


A96
Threapland. 
0.75km Junction improvement and re-alignment to improve visibility.
0.60
tba
tba
Early preparation


A96
Dalnies 
Provision of 1.1km guaranteed overtaking opportunities (WS2+1).
0.51
tba
tba
Early preparation


A96
Coachford Climbing Lane. 

2.4 km climbing lane to provide overtaking opportunities and improve safety and level of service on route.
6.70
Q3-2004-05
Q4-2005-06
Tenders received - under consideration


A96
Fochabers and Mosstodloch
Construction of 5km wide single carriageway to bypass the settlements of Fochabers and Mosstodloch. Side road connections are proposed at roundabouts for Mosstodloch/Baxters, Fochabers/Spey Bay, and the A98. A separate cyclepath/footpath would be provided linking Fochabers and Mosstodloch.
15.20
Q1-2006-07
tba
Public Local Inquiry held Sep 2003


A985
Route Action Plan. 
Consider need for improvements to 19km route.
0.35
Study under way
 
Study report Q3 2005-06


M74
M74 Completion 
Provision of strategic link between existing M74 and M8 to remove congestion on national network through Glasgow. Involves construction of 8.0km of 3 lane carriageway with hard shoulder and 4 key junctions.
393.0
Early 2006
Late 2008
Scheme in partnership with Glasgow City, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Councils. Public Local Inquiry concluded March 2004 - report awaited.


M74/
A725
Raith Interchange 
Junction improvement
n/a
 
 
Early preparation


M77
Malletsheugh to Fenwick. 
Construction of 15.2km dual carriageway extension of motorway between Glasgow and Kilmarnock to improve road safety and remove congestion.
84.0
Under construction
Mar 2005
 


M8
Baillieston to Newhouse and associated improvements

Upgrade to motorway standard of overloaded section of the A8 and associated junctions
125.00
Q3-2007-08
Q1-2010-11
Early consultations held


M80
Stepps-Haggs (Phase 1) M73-Low Wood. 
4km On-line upgrade 
30.56
Q4-2006-07
Q2-2008-09
Orders published. Public Inquiry to be considered


M80
Stepps-Haggs (Phase 2) Auchenkilns to Haggs. 
8km On-line upgrade from D2AP to D2M
42.00
Q2-2008-09
Q2-2010-11
To follow Phase 1


M80
Stepps-Haggs (Phase 3) Moodiesburn Bypass. 
6km Off line new construction D2M
63.63
Q4-2006-07
Q2-2008-09
To follow Phase 1

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the planned completion of the A78 three-town bypass in December 2004, the M77, Malletsheugh to Fenwick and the A876, Kincardine Eastern Link Road in March 2005, the A80 Auchenkilns Junction in September 2005 and the large proportion of early spending committed to land acquisition for the M74 Completion, it has any concerns in respect of a lack of major road construction work being available during 2005-06 to sustain Scottish road builders during a possible period of low activity.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the planned completion of the A78 three-town bypass in December 2004, the M77, Malletsheugh to Fenwick and the A876, Kincardine Eastern Link Road in March 2005, the A80 Auchenkilns Junction in September 2005 and the large proportion of early spending committed to land acquisition for the M74 Completion, it will bring forward other major trunk road projects or large management and maintenance projects to sustain Scottish road builders during a possible period of low activity.

Nicol Stephen: No. We expect to spend more than £80 million in 2005-06 on road improvements across the network and in excess of £50 million on structural repairs. This is a reasonable workload for the road construction industry in Scotland.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed funding and procurement arrangements are for completing the M74.

Nicol Stephen: The project will be funded jointly by the Scottish Executive, Glasgow Council, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Councils, with 1.22% of the total cost being funded from other public and private sector funding. Subject to Scottish ministers’ decision following the Public Local Inquiry, the new motorway will be procured through three design and build contracts.

Scottish Executive Accommodation

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties are rented by each of its departments and what the annual costs were of each property in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: At present there are 13 properties rented by core executive departments. Both the number and level of rental costs of these properties varies from year-to-year. The following table is a summary of the historical position from 1999 as requested.

  Rented Properties of the Core Executive Departments

  

Department
Rented Property Identification
Rental Cost per annum


1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


OPS:CCS:FES

Northern College of Education, Dundee
£32,000
£32,000
-
-
-


Scottish Entp Tech Park, East Kilbride
£12,601
£12,601
-
-
-


Pentland House
£1,163,250
£1,163,250
£1,314,573
£1,177,005
£1,351,250


Unit 4A, Bonnington Ind Est, Edinburgh
£37,130
£38,451
£40,431
£38,187
£38,187


Unit 4B, Bonnington Ind Est, Edinburgh
£19,270
£20,063
£18,621
£20,856
£20,856


Unit 6B, Tower St., Edinburgh
£15,750
£15,750
£18,687
£18,700
£18,700


139 Leith Walk, Edinburgh
£90,843
£85,250
£76,116
£87,279
£115,000


17 Waterloo Pl., Edinburgh
£82,949
£82,949
£84,798
£9,379
-


Old Fruit Market, Blochairn Rd., Glasgow
£8,500
£8,500
£7,583
£10,616
£9,100


Meridian Court, Glasgow
£1,149,150
£985,706
£1,182,252
£1,056,220
£1,398,250


Europa Building, Glasgow
-
-
£583,545
£575,052
£746,000


Broxden, Perth
-
-
£139,869
£446,198
£446,000


Mill St., Perth
-
-
£41,992
£17,353
-


Ord Croft, Lairg
£3,000
£3,000
£3,000
£3,000
£3,000


20 Shore St., MacDuff
£1,950
£3,720
-
-
-


Ferry Terminal Office, Cairnryan
£1,000
£1,000
£1,000
£1,000
£1,000


Greenside Lane, Edinburgh
£170,497
£200,334
£95,156
£308,437
-


Southlands, 32 Reidhaven St., Elgin
£20,211
£14,467
£20,211
£16,169
£26,500


Justice Department
Northern College of Education, Dundee
-
-
£32,000
-
-


Scottish Entp Tech Park, East Kilbride
-
-
£12,601
-
-


ETLLD:Transport Group
Bandeath
£26,000
£26,000
£29,000
£29,000
£29,000

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of air travel between Scotland and the rest of Great Britain by its officials was in each year since 1999 and what processes are employed to ensure that all suppliers are given an equal opportunity to offer cost-effective travel arrangements.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive uses the services of an appointed travel agent to arrange air travel. A requirement of the appointed travel agent is to ensure best value for money is achieved when arranging air travel for officials.

  Between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002 the total cost including tax of air travel in Great Britain undertaken by Scottish Executive officials was £1,249,970. In the same period for 2002-03 and 2003-04, costs were £1,339,942 and £1,351,840 respectively. Information about the cost of air travel by officials prior to April 2001 is not held in the format requested. The information provided covers the core Scottish Executive departments but excludes the Crown Office, associated departments and agencies.

  The Scottish Executive is a member of the Government Travel Group ensuring maximum discounts are achieved on all major and regional routes.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of its "Tsars", has been in each year since appointment, broken down by "Tsar", and what annual savings would be made if all "Tsars" were to be abolished.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-8056 on 21 July 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each of its departments have spent on press officers in each year from 1996-97 to 2004-05, broken down by grade.

Mr Tom McCabe: Mainstream Press Officers working in the core departments of the Scottish Executive are based in the Finance and Central Services Department. Salary costs, (which include employers’ costs), since 1 April 2002 are set out in the table. (The information provided does not include staff working on support activities to the Ministerial Press Teams; e.g. staff working in Strategic Communications or Media Monitoring activities. The grade information has been grouped where necessary to avoid any singleton figures.) It would only be possible to provide information prior to 2002 at disproportionate cost.

  

 Financial Year
Assistant Information Officer
Information Officer
Senior Information Officer
Chief Press Officer and Above


2002–03
£128,298
 £524,994
£400,234
£580,420


2003–04
£176,967
 £435,587
£502,478
£594,695


2004 – Sept 2004
£121,649
£220,785 
£299,452
£302,274



  Over the period in question some adjustments were made to the grade mix in Press Office staffing, to meet operational requirements. This resulted in some grade numbers (and salary costs) increasing and others decreasing. There was, however, very little change in the overall staffing numbers. The increase in total salary spend is partly as a result of Scottish Executive corporate pay increases. It is, however, also worth commenting on the possible difference in the total spend between 2003-04 and 2004-05. The level of spend to date suggests that it will be higher this year. This is due to the fact that a number of Press Office posts were vacant in 2003-04, which led to savings in salary costs in the course of that year. Most of these posts have now been filled and this will result in an increase in the level of salary spend expected this year.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) capital and (b) running costs were of mobile phones in each of its departments in each year since 1999.



Mr Tom McCabe: 2002-03
2003-04
2004-05 (to end Sept.)


(£000)


SERAD
30
23
12


SE Admin
74
75
43


SEDD
13
12
11


SEED
14
11
10


SEELLD
12
11
8


SEFCSD
43
40
14


SEHD
26
31
14


SEJD
14
14
7


Total
226
217
119



  There are no capital costs for mobile phones.

  Figures shown here are for costs for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 up to end September. The costs include rental charges, call charges, equipment charges - such as batteries, chargers, hands-free car kits and handsets where appropriate.

  Information for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 is not available as the archived information does not differentiate between mobile phone costs and other telephony costs.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the travel costs were of civil servants in each of its departments and agencies in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is set out in the following table. The information includes subsistence costs as it is not possible to separate these from all the travel costs incurred by staff. Restructuring of Departments in the Scottish Executive over the period affects some of the year on year comparisons.

  

Year
1999-2000
(£000)
2000-01
(£000)
2001-02
(£000)
2002-03
(£000)
2003-04
(£000)


Department
 


Change and Corporate Services
1,232
1,035
 921
1,060
 944


Finance and Central Services Department
 593
 614
 688
 725
 643


Education Department
 184
 238
 271
 372
 418


Development Department
 369
 355
 410
 439
 553


Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department
 376
 354
 338
 313
 516


Health Department
 253
 355
 389
 528
 477


Justice Department
 322
 327
 348
 381
 406


Environment and Rural Affairs Department
1,690
1,595
1,866
1,625
1,669


Total
5,019
4,873
5,231
5,443
5,626


 


Other Departments and Agencies
 
 
 
 
 


Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
 400
 415
 487
 531
 704


National Archives of Scotland
 26
 30
 31
 30
 31


Registers of Scotland
 131
 145
 103
 103
 121


Historic Scotland
 499
 508
 536
 542
 567


Student Awards Agency for Scotland
 18
 11
 9
 18
 24


Communities Scotland#
-
-
 181
 492
 485


Fisheries Research Service
530
491
593
575
614


HM Inspectorate of Education
*
*
 571
 556
 587


Office of the Accountant in Bankruptcy
 1
 4
 9
 13
 13


Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
 205
 209
 190
 238
 225


Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
 289
 317
 333
 344
 362


Scottish Prison Service
 500
1,800
1,500
 500
 500


Scottish Public Pensions Agency
 25
 26
 43
186
241



  Notes:

  # Communities Scotland became an Agency of the Scottish Executive on 1 November 2001.

  * Included in Education Department costs.

Scottish Executive Staff

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Finance and Public Services was referring to specific civil servants when he used the phrase "gifted amateur" ( Official Report c 10409) and, if so, to which civil servants he was referring.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Minister for Finance and Public Services was not referring to any specific civil servants when using the phrase "gifted amateur". The minister was referring to the changes being introduced more generally to the civil service in Scotland, based on the lessons learned from the Holyrood Inquiry Report.

Scottish Executive Staff

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a proper application of the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Code was followed in the recruitment of "gifted amateurs", as referred to by the Minister for Finance and Public Services ( Official Report c 10409).

Mr Tom McCabe: The Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Code is applied to all recruitment to permanent posts in the Scottish Executive.

Scottish Executive Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary costs to it were in each department of employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The specialist Executive staff working on public relations and publicity activities within the core departments of the Scottish Executive are based in the Finance and Central Services Department. The activities covered are advertising, marketing and PR, publications, and the corporate website. Salary costs, (which include employers’ costs), since 1 April 2002 are set out in the table. It would only be possible to provide information prior to 2002 at disproportionate cost.

  

Financial Year
Salary Costs


2002–03
£425,095


2003–04
£553,183


2004– Sept 2004
£287,676



  In 2003 the news website team assumed responsibility for development and running of the corporate website www.scotland.gov.uk and also the international promotion of Scotland website www.scotlandistheplace.com. An additional member of staff was also transferred from the Communications and Information Services Division to the web team, responsible for web compliance and corporate training.

  Following a review of publications commissioning in 2002-03, a team of two was set up to deliver cost saving through improved commissioning efficiencies. In 2002-03 and 2003-04 the number of publications remained at approximately the same level while production costs were reduced by £100,000 over the two year period. The same team was instrumental in preparing the new Design, Print, Publishing and Associated Services contract which has been negotiated to deliver additional cost savings and improved efficiency estimated in excess of £100,000 p.a. over the next three years.

Social Inclusion

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on its consideration of the recommendations of Equipped for Inclusion - Report of the Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations and Audit Scotland’s report, Adapting to the Future – Management of community equipment and adaptations – A baseline report .

Rhona Brankin: I am currently considering the recommendations of the Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations and I will respond to that report shortly. The findings of the Audit Scotland report have been accepted and steps are being taken to implement the three recommendations for the Scottish Executive.

Sport

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what acreage of local authority playing fields has been sold since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority playing fields that have been sold since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Sport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging local authorities to preserve access to public golf courses in local plans.

Johann Lamont: The content of a local plan is a matter for the planning authority for that particular area. There is no specific local plan policy on public access to golf courses. However, National Planning Policy Guideline 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space encourages planning authorities to include a policy of protecting rights of way and other permissive access routes in local plans.

Tourism

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism attractions there are, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: This information is not available, since some visitor attractions are not members of their area tourist boards, neither do they participate in VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme.

Tourism

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism accommodation are members of area tourist boards, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The number of tourism accommodation providers which are members of their area tourist boards are shown in the table. Information on the number of tourism accommodation providers by local authority area is not available.

  

Area Tourist Board
Number of Accommodation Providers


Aberdeen and Grampian
614


Angus and Dundee
211


Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs
1,360


Ayrshire and Arran
414


Dumfries and Galloway
569


Edinburgh and Lothians
735


Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley
311


Highlands of Scotland
1,700


Kingdom of Fife
437


Orkney
284


Perthshire
497


Scottish Borders
404


Shetland
142


Western Isles
315


Total
7,993

Tourism

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism attractions are members of area tourist boards, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The number of tourism attraction providers which are members of their area tourist boards are shown in the table. Information on the number of tourism accommodation providers by local authority area is not available.

  

Area Tourist Board
Number of Attraction Providers


Aberdeen and Grampian
97


Angus and Dundee
48


Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs
281


Ayrshire and Arran
50


Dumfries and Galloway
153


Edinburgh and Lothians
117


Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley
63


Highlands of Scotland
86


Kingdom of Fife
52


Orkney
50


Perthshire
51


Scottish Borders
87


Shetland
23


Western Isles
35


Total
1,193

Tourism

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many providers of tourism attractions are members of VisitScotland’s quality assurance scheme, broken down by area tourist board and local authority area.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The number of tourism attraction providers which participate in VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme are shown in the table. Information on the number of tourism accommodation providers by local authority area is not available.

  

Area Tourist Board
Number of Attraction Providers


Aberdeen and Grampian
129


Angus and Dundee
60


Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs
106


Ayrshire and Arran
51


Dumfries and Galloway
84


Edinburgh and Lothians
125


Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley
81


Highlands of Scotland
138


Kingdom of Fife
53


Orkney
14


Perthshire
78


Scottish Borders
72


Shetland
24


Western Isles
9


Total
1,024

Tourism

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to evaluate the impact of new overhead power lines on the economies of communities reliant on tourism.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has not carried out any research into the impact of new overhead power lines on the economies of communities reliant on tourism.

  However, we do understand the importance of tourism to the rural economy and, through VisitScotland, we are fully committed to the promotion of rural tourism. That is why developers of new power lines must consult widely on their proposals with local communities, including community councils and other local interest as specified under the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulation 2000.